Sentencing of teenage driver involved in crash that killed Wicklow girl Molly Dempsey postponed
The Wicklow PeopleThe sentencing of a Wicklow teen who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of 15-year-old Molly Dempsey has been delayed until January.
The 18-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons as he was a minor at the time of the offence, appeared at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing on Friday. The offence occurred in Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow, on May 5, 2024.
The court heard that at 4.30am neighbours heard a car leaving their estate. In their statements they said they believed the car was in the wrong gear.
The defendant has taken his mother’s car keys, with James Kelly BL, counsel for the prosecution, telling the court that the defendant was unable to drive.
He collected Ms Dempsey and was only a few kilometres away from her home when the fatal crash occurred. Four calls were made to emergency services from Ms Dempsey’s phone by the defendant.
The court heard that in the first call the operator asked if he needed the fire brigade, gardaí or an ambulance and the defendant said he had crashed the car and was only a minor.
In the second call the defendant said: “I robbed the car, I think she is going to die.”
In the last two calls the defendant stated that Ms Dempsey was underneath the vehicle and that they needed an ambulance.
Ambulances arrived at the scene, and the car was moved off Ms Dempsey. CPR was performed for 50 minutes at the scene of the crash, but Ms Dempsey was dead on arrival when she reached Naas Hospital.
The court heard that the defendant was questioned at the scene and failed a roadside sobriety test, but later passed one when brought back to a garda station.
A detailed medical report was prepared, showing that Ms Dempsey suffered crushing injuries to her upper chest that led to her death.
A specialised unit of An Garda Síochána investigated the crash and ruled that the car was travelling at high speed.
Counsel for the defence, Michael Hourigan, with junior counsel Eamonn O’Moore, told the court that their client rang emergency services four times, that nobody witnessed the fatal crash, and that nobody could confirm what speed they were travelling at.
When questioned by gardaí, while accompanied by his father, the defendant said: “I don’t have anything to say to you. I will only talk to the family.”
The court heard that the defendant had pleaded guilty in the District Court before Judge David Kennedy to related charges of no insurance and driving without a licence.
Victim impact statements were read aloud by members of the Dempsey family, with Molly’s mother Mary saying the driver had shown no remorse.
“As parents we can’t move forward,” her mother added. “All I know is my daughter is gone.”
The defendant’s legal team said that he had written a letter of apology to the family, but that this was not an appropriate time to give it to them.
Judge Patrick Quinn adjourned sentencing until January 13, 2026.